Recent research using British data with Australian analytics presents a theoretical model to decrease human health risks. This obviously has a direct positive flow on to any workplace or organisation. So, what do we need to consider? 

The research looked at a combination of behaviours and their impact on individuals’ cardiovascular events. The behaviours are sleep, physical activity and nutrition, No surprises. However, what was surprising is how little modification is needed with each element to reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events.  

From the analysis of 53, 242 adults the optimal changes required to get the biggest decrease in overall cardiovascular health were: 

• Sleep: 8.0-9.5 hours/day. 
• Activity: 40-105 minutes/day (moderate to vigorous activity) 
• Nutrition: healthy, clean eating. 

When these elements are attended to concurrently there is a 57% lower risk of an adverse cardiovascular event.   

If this regime is too hard then the minimum changes need to impact cardiovascular health were: 

• Sleep: Increase by 10 minutes/day 
• Activity: increase by 5 minutes/day 
• Nutrition: add a quarter cup vegetables/day 

The outcome was a 10% lower risk of an adverse cardiovascular event.  

The modelling points to making modest changes across all elements to get the best result.  

These changes will lead to long term cardiovascular health being better managed. 

While all elements are crucial to mitigating risks and need to be considered as a collective, the order of greatest impact in the model was – 

1. Physical Activity 
2. Sleep 
3. Nutrition  

Therefore, any intervention to mitigate human risk in the workplace should create combined behavioural targets rather than having a focus on a single behaviour.  

Within one of the fully integrated programs Optimum delivers to the workplace we obtain data on heart health, sleep patterns, head health and lifestyle behaviours. The data is aggregated into an overall company risk rating. The improvements in the data is reflected in the positive changes to cardiovascular health. 

• High risk heart health employees decreased from 37% to 4% 
• Low risk heart health employees increased from 30% to 94%. 

These data are supported by 

• Sleep data (high risk group) decreased from 24% to 5% and the low-risk group increased from 40% to 86%. 
• Nutrition score indicates that over 75% are now eating clean.  
• Physical activity has remained constant at around 50% of the group. 

In addition, there has been a significant reduction in smoking from 52% of the group to 20%.  

This smoking element was not included in the research quoted but has had a massive impact on improving the overall health of this group.  

If you wish to see how the combined variations of behavioural risks are impacting you and your organisation then contact us.